our TEAM
Dr. Richard Matteson
Founder
Dr. Matteson founded Hope for Grieving Children- Africa after the visited his daughter and son in law (Jeff & Danette Johnson) serving in Choma, Zambia. Seeing the plight of orphans struggling with the emotional symptoms of grief, he returned home and developed a curriculum designed to assist orphan caregivers with the tools to guide orphans under their care through the trauma associated with grief. Together with his daughter Danette, they founded the Ministry Hope for Grieving Children-Africa.
International Directors
Cyrus Mfula
Field Director
Mr. Cyrus Mfula is the Field Director of Hope for Grieving Children – Africa. He has worked 12 years with private, public and non-profit organizations in the area of community development. He has trained and managed programs in palliative care, community health education, HIV prevention, orphan care and support, community entrepreneurship and human resource development. Mr. Mfula is married to Prisca Mfula and they have two daughters, Chipo and Emma. They currently reside in Lusaka, Zambia.
Sibanji Job-Daniels Cholwe, Jr.
Team Member
Sibanji Job-Daniels Cholwe, Jr. is part of Hope for Grieving Children Resource Team. In June 2011, Sibanji was introduced to the training, Hope for Grieving Children – Africa and he believes this job is the Lord’s answer to his prayers. Sibanji has been an integral part of HGC in the areas of administration, facilitating trainings, and working with youth. Joining Hope for Grieving Children has helped him understand the phases of grief he has undergone in his life and taught him how to identify the symptoms in those who are grieving.
Prisca Chilobe Mfula
Training Coordinator
Mrs. Prisca Chilobe Mfula is a Hope for Grieving Children Resource Team member, organizing and administrating details for trainings and follow-up visits and ministering to the needs of participants. She began her own organization called PRIMACH Hope Rehabilitation, targeting orphans and vulnerable children on the streets. Mrs. Mfula is married to Cyrus Mfula and they have two daughters, Chipo and Emma. They currently reside in Lusaka, Zambia.
Jeff and Danette Johnson
Co-Founders
Jeff and Danette Johnson have been involved with mission work since 2000. They have been trained and ordained by Iris Ministries and have spent the majority of their years in ministry with work in Zambia, Africa, working with widows, orphans and youth touched by the AIDS crisis. They have ministered and worked with hundreds of teams and interns both in Africa and in the States. Jeff Johnson currently serves as President of International Needs US, a faith-based global mission organization that brings the transforming power of Jesus Christ to men, women, and children through economic empowerment, education, health and sanitation, refugees and relief, and gospel outreach. Jeff and his wife Danette have been involved with international mission work for the last 18 years, having been trained and ordained by Iris Ministries, Harvest School of Missions. The majority of those years were spent serving in Sub-Saharan. They planted a church in Zambia Africa and have traveled to more than 20 countries bringing the love and compassion of Christ. Jeff also served as the Director of Community Health with World Hope International and as the Executive Director of Hope for Grieving Children-Africa.
Danette Johnson has worked closely alongside her husband, Jeff Johnson, to minister both overseas and in the U.S. She has had extensive training through various ministries in the areas of spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and emotional and physical healing. She has recently released a new curriculum addressing trauma and grief, entitled “InSpire: Inspiring Faith for the Journey. This curriculum compliments the “Unstuck: Hope for Grieving Children” training Danette, along with her father, Doctor Richard Matteson, created training indigenous leaders and organizations around the world in understanding grief and change, bringing hope and healing to orphans, widows, and anyone experiencing loss. Both curriculums are currently available in an online format, making it available worldwide. She has authored the book "Unstuck: How to Grieve Well and Find New Footing" and has led seminars in the States bringing understanding and healing to those walking through grief and change. She has spoken at many churches and conferences both on the topic of grief, as well as on building up and encouraging people in their walk with the Lord. She has developed, "Carriers of the Kingdom", a missions training manual and seminar being used with mission teams, as well as bible studies. Her passion is to see believers mature in their relationship with the Lord with the ability to walk in healing and purpose and be trained and equipped to help others do the same.